Tag Archives: food

10 Things That You Will Need when an Emergency Strikes

Many people do not know what they need in order to survive after a natural disaster. Most assume that they will just go down to the store and be given what they need. Other assume their church will get them through. Sadly, as seen with Katrina that will not be the case. It will be up to you to provide what you need that is why it is so important that you are prepared. Remember, nobody is going to prepare for you.

The following is a list of items that you will want to make sure that you and your family have in case you are faced with an emergency.

#1) Storable Food

Canned food is a priority when a disaster strikes as you will not be able to just run to your nearest grocery store to get what you want. In many cases you will be confined to your home for extended periods of time. You are going to need food that doesn’t require refrigeration as electricity will be scarce or non-existent. Even if you plan to growing your own food it is best to have a substantial amount of storable food put away.

#2) Clean Water

Most people could make it for a number of weeks without food, but without water you will die in a matter of days. You and your family are going to need clean water. Is there an abundant supply of water near your home? Will you be able to boil water if you need to? Without clean water you just are not going to survive for long.

#3) Shelter

In many natural disasters the possibility of losing your home is likely. What would you do if you lost your home or you were forced from your home? You and your family will need a safe warm place to sleep. Since, it is likely electricity will be unavailable make sure you have plenty of firewood on hand to keep you warm. In addition, always make sure you have a backup plan if you have to leave where you are at. Do you have family you can move in with if necessary? Do you have a tent that you could set up in the woods? If not take a look at the shelters v.s bunkers category for instructions on building an emergency shelter. Make sure you have a utility knife and tools needed to build your shelter.

#4) Warm Clothing

This is especially important if you live in a colder climate. You are your family need to prepare as if you would not be able to depend on the power company. Keep a store of clothing as if you would have to make it without heat if necessary. Always make sure to have plenty of blankets as well. Already there have been recent news stories this winter of people freezing to death inside their own homes after having their heat turned off. Don’t let that be you.

#5) Communication

This is especially important if you live in an isolated area. Always have a way to communicate with the outside world. Whether it is an emergency cell phone or something else, if you are able to call an ambulance in a timely manner it might save your life. Walkie-talkies are another way to communicate should phone service be unavailable. You can set up a local disaster network among you neighbors in order to give and receive assistance. It is those who are willing to work together that will have the best chance of making it.

#6) Lighters Or Matches

There may come a day when you need to start a fire in order to cook food or to boil water or to stay warm. When that day comes, do you really want to try rubbing sticks together to start a fire? Of course not. Now is the time to put away a supply of lighters or matches so that you will be prepared when you really need them. I would also recommend keeping a supply of steel wool and 9 volt batteries as you can immediately start a fire by putting the battery to the steel wool.

#7) Comfortable Shoes

This is an item that not a lot of people think of when it comes to survival. But what if you find yourself in an emergency situation where you are not able to use your car? What if you find yourself out in the wilderness far from the nearest town? Especially if you are headed out to a wilderness area, make certain to have some shoes on hand that will be comfortable.

#8) Flashlight And Plenty Of Extra Batteries

Just think about what happens when the power goes out now. What quickly becomes one of the most important items? A flashlight. Without a flashlight, you won’t be able to do much of anything after the sun goes down. Also, make sure you have plenty of extra batteries, because in a prolonged crisis your flashlight will be of little help without batteries.

#9) A Battery-Powered Radio

In a crisis situation, you will want to know what is going on in the world around you. A battery-powered radio can be a great source of information. You can even get a wind-up radio in some stores that doesn’t require batteries at all. Now, you can certainly survive without a radio, but you are your family will feel much better if you have some way of keeping track of what is going on out there.

#10) Sanitation Supplies And A First Aid Kit

Keeping a good emergency kit on hand will be very important to your survival. Untreated wounds will weaken if not outright kill you in an emergency situation where medical assistance might be scarce. In addition, what would you do without toilet paper or soap? I am sure you get the idea. Things can get unsanitary fast sp make sure that you and your family have plenty of supplies on hand.

Some people say that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Well I beg to differ. After partaking in a short 1 day foraging course, my eyes have been opened to the world of edible delights growing on my doorstep. Next time you’re on your way to the supermarket, why not have a look in nature’s larder first. Here are some tips to get you going.

Where to start

Start with something familiar. I started by picking blackberries because they are easy to find and easy to eat. When you find what you are looking for, take a look around at what kind of environment they are growing in, and what else is growing there. You will start to recognize familiar plants and understand what conditions certain plants grow in.

Learn

Get yourself a good book, or indeed several on wild plant identification or foraging. Find out about any local courses or wild food walks. The best way to learn is to be shown by an expert. Talk to the locals when you are foraging. They may have valuable knowledge on where to find specific plants. Take photo’s of plants that you are struggling to identify and seek help from online forums. Make a map and take notes of what you’ve found and where you found it. This will make it easier to find next year and help you develop an instinct for where to look for certain plants.

Urban Foraging

Living in a city is no excuse not to get your foraging basket out. Many edibles thrive in urban areas. Having spent weeks scouring the countryside for rocket, I found vast quantities of it growing out of the pavement one street away from my house. In many cases, it’s easier to forage in the city than to go to the supermarket!

Cook

Get yourself a good collection of recipes. You probably won’t find many recipe books that tell you how to cook something like Sea Purslane, but the Internet is a wonderful resource for learning how to prepare and eat your wild food. There is no point in gathering a basket full of edibles if you don’t know what to do with them. Be patient and open minded. Many wild plants require careful preparation before they can be considered pleasant enough to eat!

Safety, the law and the environment

Never, under any circumstances risk eating a plant unless you are 100% sure you have identified it correctly. Always consult a good book or speak to an expert before eating something you are unsure about. Also be aware of where the plant is growing. In towns and cities, many edible plants are considered weeds and may have been doused in herbicides. You must also respect the environment when foraging. Only take what you need. Don’t strip a plant bare, take a little from many plants to allow them to continue growing healthily. In the UK there is a huge collection of laws and bi-laws that relate to foraging. The best advice is to use your common sense. One regulation to keep in mind is that it is illegal to uproot any wild plant in Great Britain. It is advisable to contact your local authority to find full details on what you can and can’t do.

What to look for

Here is a selection of the most common plants to get you started. They should be quite easy to find.

Foraging for your dinner may not always be as convenient as popping to the local shop, but it certainly makes up for it with the enjoyment and satisfaction you get from collecting and cooking your own food. There is a forgotten world of delicious, unusual and exciting edibles out there waiting to be tasted. Who cares about convenience when you are up to your waist in nature collecting crab apples! So get your wellington boots on and get out there.

P.S. Dont forget to keep and eye out for fruit and nut trees as they can provide you with an easy quick snack.